Clamp arm on a single thread sewing machine for holding fabric fasteners

ABSTRACT

A fastener clamp arm assembly for a power driven single thread sewing machine having a transverse two path needle for stitching multi-thread loops on a fabric for securing each of a variety of flat or shank and eyelet buttons, snaps, hooks and eyes on fabrics, including a laterally adjustable calmp arm adapted to be transversely vertically pivoted on a driven member for backward and forward movement to stitch pluralities of spaced loops through opposite pairs of holes in buttons held thereon or manually transferring the arm for pivotal movement on a fixed support for stitching pluralities of single loop fasteners.

I Umted States Patent 1191 1111 3;776,154

Weiss Dec. 4, 1973 [54] CLAMP ARM ON A SINGLE THREAD 3,561,381 2/1971 Weiss 112/114 SEWING MACHINE FOR HOLDING FABRIC FASTENERS Primary Examiner-Geo. V. Larkin [76] Inventor: Martin Weiss, 2100 SW. 20th $1., Andres Miami, Fla. 33145 [57] ABSTRACT [22] Filed: Mar. 19, 1973 A fastener clamp arm assembly for a power dr1ven Sul- PP bio-33421597 gle thread sewing machine having a transverse two path needle for stitching multi-thread loops on a fabric 52 US. Cl. 112/114 Securing each Of a Variety flat Shank and [51] Dosh 3/00 let buttons, snaps, hooks and eyes on fabrics, includ- 58 Field of Search ..112/104-115 mg a laterally adjustable adapted be References Citedtransversely vertically pivoted on a driven member for backward and forward movement to stitch pluralities of spaced loops through opposite pairs of holes in buttons held thereon or manually transferrmg the arm for UNITED STATES PATENTS pivotal movement on a fixed support for stitching plu- EQPF i ralities of single loop fasteners. 1u 1a.no 3,693,560 9/ 1972 Weiss ll-2/l l4 4 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures --llmn C36 2 FATENTEU DEC 4 9 5 SHEET 2'0? 2 FIG .12.

CLAMP ARM ON A SINGLE THREAD SEWING MACHINE FOR HOLDING FABRIC FASTENERS This invention relates in general to power driven single thread sewing machines adapted to loop stitch a large variety of buttons, snaps, hooks and eyes onto fabrics and includes a simplified means for adjusting the fastener in proper alignment with the spaced transverse paths of the dual path reciprocating needle.

Prior to this invention, the fastener clamp arm was a complicated assembly permanently pivoted on a forward and back drive member for alternately stitching parallel loops through opposite pairs of holes in buttons. The adjustment of the arm with relation to retaining each of the various fasteners in proper alignment with respect to the two path needle adjustment was complicated, tedious and time consuming prior to this invention.

A principal object of this invention includes a fixed bearing means on said machine for the transfer of a manually removable pin normally pivoting the fastener clamp to the, drive member adapted to be transferred v FIG. 6 is a cross sectional top view, taken through section line 66, FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary cross sectional front elevation taken through section line 7-7, FIG. 2.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary side elevation of themachine showing the clamp arm pivoted by a pin on the forward and rearward drive member.

FIG. 9 is a top view thereof taken through section line 99, FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a cross sectional rear elevation taken through section line 10-10, FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 shows a fragmentary perspective view of a fabric with a typical hook bridge-sewed across the eyes thereof and across the underside of the hook portion.

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary perspective view of a fabric with a snap fastener loop-stitched over each of the opposite spoke-like members thereof.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the main bod-y of the power sewing machine is illustrated by a base 1 and an upstanding portion 2 and an offset portion 3.

A fastener clamp assembly 4 is pivotally mounted by a removable pin Shaving a knurled end 5a through a pillow block 6'having a pair of spaced pin bearingportions7--7.'A rearend of the clamp arm 8 is joumalled on pin.5 closely fitted between the downward depending'bearing portions 7. A pair of offset levei's 9-9 are integral with arm 8 pivotally retained on an oscillating driver member 10, better shown in FIG. 7, which is Another object of the invention is the provision of an L shaped retaining member adapted and constructed to receive a particular form of fastener into the side thereof for the required sewing, such as portions of each button, snap or hook with the retaining member secured to the forward vertical side of the clamp arm.

V of risers l2''12 for engaging a cylindrical vertical guid- A further object of the invention embraces a slot in v the vertical portion of the fastener retaining member through which a screw is threaded into the front of the clamp arm for providing a means for adjusting the vertical position of the fastener held in said retaining member with reference to the surface of the fabric means on which it is to be stitched.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a manually actuated button for sewing a pivoted finger to and from the insertion side of the retaining member bycompressing the button against the restraining action of a spring and wherein the release of the button will-per mit the finger to be urged against the outer side of the fastener for holding same in proper alignment in the retaining member for loop. sewing of the fastener.

Reference is had to applicants US. Pat., No. 3,693,560.

These and other objects and advantages in one embodiment of the invention are described and shown in the following specification and drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is'a fragmentary side elevation, of an industrial sewing machine in reduced scale, showing the improved fastener clamp arm assembly, illustrating, the normal and raised positions thereof.

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional top view takenthroughsection line. 2--2, FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary front elevation of the. clamp.

arm assembly.

FIG. 4 is an inside elevation taken through section line 44, FIG. 1. FIG. 5. is the same as FIG. 4 in changed position.

adapted to reciprocate forward and back through an adjustable distance D and has integral bearing membersll-II for receiving the pin 5 for pivotally raising and lowering the clamp arm assembly 4,-illustrated by dottedlines, the object thereof to be hereinafter described.

The outer end portion of the clamp arm 8 has a pair ance pin 13 positioned therebetween, which pin is vertically adjusted by well known means in the offset portion 3.-.An extension member 14 of theclamp assembly has an integral right angled portion 15 depending downward therefrom. The member 14 is pivotally securedto arm 8 for movement about a pivot 16 in the underside of .the arm for mounting the arm extension member IA-which is laterally adjustable against the underside of arm 8 and secured by a threaded shoulder screw-l7 having a finger. adjustment lever 8 therein, as shown in FIG. 6. Thus the member 14-15 may be ad- 'justed in opposite lateral directions with respect to arm The FIGS. 1-6 illustrate a form of fastener retainer (sometimes called a foot), adapted to retain a snap which includes a reciprocating button operated assembly for holding and releasing the fastener.

Referring to FIG. 4, a rod 19 terminating in a button 19a is joumalled for vertical reciprocation in bushing 20secured in the member 14. A flat plate 21 is welded to the lower side portion of rod 19 and has a pin 22 projecting therefrom, which pin is engaged in a slot in a camming lever 23 secured to a shaft 24 which is journalled for rotation in a bushing. 25 supported by the downward right angled portion 15 and retained by a collar 27 and a screw 33, as shown in FIG. 6, The outer end of shaft-24 contains a transverse hole through which the upper end of a fastener finger 28 is secured to bushing 25 by a screw 34 and terminates at its outer endvin a flattened-holding portion 29 to be hereinafter described. FIG. 4 also shows a spring 30 around the upper portion of rod 19 between button 1% and member 14 which normally urges the flattened portion 29 against the side of the fastener for holding same in stitching position.

FIG. 5 shows the button 19a manually depressed and moving the finger outward for the removal of a loop stitched fastener and the manual insertion of a subsequent fastener.

FIG. 6 shows the construction on the inside of the angled portion in which the shaft 24 is joumalled on bushing 25 secured in angled portion 15 and retained therein by holding collar 27 secured by screw 33. The upper end of the fastener finger 28 is secured through a hole in the outer enlarged end of the shaft 24 and retained by screw 34. Each of a plurality of fastener re tainers are adapted for insertion from the side and formed to the type thereof to retain a plurality of differ-' ent shape, size and design, a simple one of which retains one-half of a snap fastener, shown in FIG. 3, which consists of a right angled member with each vertical side of the opening therein slotted for holding the fastener by its opposite marginal edges, as illustrated in FIG. 3 directly above a laterally adjustable fabric or work support 35 mounted on the base 1, which holder has an opening therethrough for the needle to freely move transversely and to engage the looping means within the base, not shown. Each of a plurality of different fabric supports are required for different type fasteners with each adapted to lateral and vertical adjustment on base 1 and on the face of clamp angled portion 15.

FIG. 3 illustrates the alternate transverse movement of the needle 36 by showing the left reciprocating path in solid lines and the right reciprocating path in dotted lines. It also shows portion 29 of the finger 28 positioned against one side of the fastener by the urgingaction of spring 30.

FIG. 7 illustrates the alternate position of pin 5 holding the fastener clamp arm 8 in fixed pivotal position in the bearing portions 7-7 of the pillow block 6. The

clamp assembly will not be affected by movement of the oscillating driver member 10.

Referring to FIG. 3, a fastener retainer 37 having a slotted vertical groove 38 therein is secured by a screw 39 to the front face of angled portion 15. In this position each half of the snap fastener may be inserted in marginal side grooves of the offset portion of retainer 37 by marginal side grooves when the button 190 is depressed. When the button is released, spring 30 will bear against the outer edge of the fastener and hold same for loop stitching, better shown in FIG. 9, which fastener may be positioned over the needle opening in the work support or base 35 for the fabric. The entire clamp assembly is lowered by gravity with the pin 13 adjusted to urge the fastener retainer in contact with the fabric on the work support. At this point, the oscillating needle will sew a loop transversely across the front spoke-like member of the fastener and when finished the driver member 10 is adapted to move the clamp assembly forward for a sewing bridge loop across.

the rear spoke-like portion of the fastener which is now completed and may be removed from the retainer 37 by pressing button 19 a which will permit the removal of the fastener from its retained position. It is now apparent that hooks and shank and eyelet type buttons may be held in corresponding retainers by sewing transverse bridge loops on each particular element of the fastener.

A principal feature of the aforesaid invention provides for the removalof the pin 5a from its position shown in- FIGS. 8 and 9 and through bearing portions 7 of the pillow block 6 and through the upper holes in the arm 8, which eliminates the forward and backward oscillation of the arm and provides only the vertical pivotal movement required for inserting and positioning the elements to be loop stitched. It is apparent that a lateral adjustment of any of the fastener retainers may be made by loosening screw 17 with lever 18 and adjusting the main element 14-15 in small transverse directions for aligning the needle 36 to properly loop sew a particular fastener. Forward and reverse adjustment is now unnecessary because of the accurate fixed location of the pin 5 through the pillow block 6.

It has been foundthat a hook is best secured to a fabric by having a loop sewed under the hook portion and also across the eye portion. This may be easily done by first sewing a single transverse bridge loop 40 without the presence of the hook and then manually inserting the hook under the sewed loop and into the position shown in FIG. 9, then moving the fabric and the fastener to the position for the transverse sewing of loop 41 through each eye thereof, as shown. It is apparent that the snap shown in FIG. 12 may be loop sewed 42 across each of the four spoke-like members and sequentially manually rotated for sewing the four spokes, as shown. However, snaps of this character are usually sewn only on opposite pairs of spoke'like members only. FIGS. 11 and 12 are shown sewn on illustrations of fabric.

It is to be understood that certain modifications in construction are intended to come within the teachings and scope of the above specification.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In a power driven single thread sewing machine for sewing a plurality of each of a difi'erent type of fasteners on a fabric means forming a fixed body having a hollow base portion and an integral upstanding portion and an integral offset portion extending over said base portion and terminating in a sewing head,

a needle bar adapted and constructed for predetermined vertical and alternately spaced transverse parallel axial reciprocation in said sewing head including a threaded sewing needle extending from the lower end thereof for alternate predetermined spaced transverse movement through said fabric means and an opening through each of said plurality of fabric support means and through an opening through said base portion when said bar is operated for sewing a multi-thread loop stitch of predeten mined length over a portion of each of said plurality of fasteners for stitching same to said fabric means, powerdriven clamp drive member adapted and constructed for forward and back horizontal oscillation through a predetermined distance and'positioned under said offset portion adjacent said upstanding portion of said body when operated,

a first transverse bearing means on said driver member for including a slidable cylindrical pivot pin therethrough,

fastener clamp arm assembly positioned centrally under said oflset portion and including a downward offset second bearing means for mating with said first bearing means for pivoting said arm assembly on said pin centrally positioned under said offset portion for vertical movement within a predetermined vertical angle for adapting the arm assembly for forward and back oscillation with said drive member when operated and for downward angular movement for positioning a said fastener in stitching position over said fabric,

said clamp arm assembly comprising a front and a rear member with the said front member pivotally secured to the said rear member for limited lateral angular movement including a manual leveroperated screw means for securing the angular adjustment of the said front member with respect to the said rear member for positioning a said fastener in transverse stitching position,

said rear clamp member having a longitudinal open groove on the upper side thereof for slidably engaging the end portion of an adjustable shaft vertically journalled in said offset portion with the lower end thereof bearing against the bottom and side surfaces of said groove for adjusting the angular position of the arm about said pivot pin with a predetermined space between each said fastener retainer with respect to said fabric support means,

a third fixed bearing means secured to the inner side of said upstanding portion of said body for pivoting said clamp arm assembly through a fourth bearing means therein for pivoting same in said third bearing means in substantially the same position as when pivoted in said second bearing means whereby when said pin is positioned through said third and fourth bearing means loop sewing is restricted to a single position for stitching a transverse said loop for retaining each of said plurality of fasteners when said machine is operated and whereby when said pin is positioned through said first and second bearing means a pair of parallel said loops may be sewed on a fabric for dual fastening a said fastener by the forward and rearward motion of said clamp arm assembly when said machine is operated.

2. The construction recited in claim 1, said clamp,

arm assembly having a main rear portion having a flat under side and a front portion having a flat top side pivoted thereto with the said underside pivoted to said top side and retained together by a screw means threaded into said top side through a predetermined clearance hole through said front portion for locking said front portion at a predetermined angle with respect to said rear portion when said screw means is tightened.

3. The construction recited in claim 1 including an L shaped fastener retainer secured to the front vertical surface of the downward extending portion of said arm assembly and retained by a screw means through a vertical slot in said retainer,

said retainer adapted and constructed to receive fasteners in a recess in one side thereof in close proximity to the lower surface of said retainer,

said recess having extended parallel transverse grooves in the side walls thereof for holding a said fastener,

a spring urged finger means for holding said fastener in said recess for loop stitching. 4. The construction recited in claim 1 including a fastener holder for urging a fastener in stitching position in a retainer comprising a shaft journalled for rotation through said downward extending portion of said clamp arm assembly for rotation about an axis normal to the front surface thereof,

a finger means secured in the one end of said shaft by a screw means,

the outer end of said finger means movable through a predetermined angle from an idle position to a position against a fastener for holding same in stitching position including a shaft journalled for vertical reciprocation in said outer member,

said shaft terminating in a button adapted for vertical reciprocation in the front portion of said clamp assembly,

articulation means connecting the lower end of said button with the inner end portion of said shaft including a spring means for normally urging said shaft and said articulation means and said finger into its said hold position against a fastener in stitching position in said retainer and said finger to angularly move away from said fastener for manual removal when said shaft is depressed by said but- 

1. In a power driven single thread sewing machine for sewing a plurality of each of a different type of fasteners on a fabric means forming a fixed body having a hollow base portion and an integral upstanding portion and an integral offset portion extending over said base portion and terminating in a sewing head, a needle bar adapted and constructed for predetermined vertical and alternately spaced transverse parallel axial reciprocation in said sewing head including a threaded sewing needle extending from the lower end thereof for alternate predetermined spaced transverse movement through said fabric means and an opening through each of said plurality of fabric support means and through an opening through said base portion when said bar is operated for sewing a multi-thread loop stitch of predetermined length over a portion of each of said plurality of fasteners for stitching same to said fabric means, a power driven clamp drive member adapted and constructed for forward and back horizontal oscillation through a predetermined distance and positioned under said offset portion adjacent said upstanding portion of said body when operated, a first transverse bearing means on said driver member for including a slidable cylindrical pivot pin therethrough, a fastener clamp arm assembly positioned centrally under said offset portion and including a downward offset second bearing means for mating with said first bearing means for pivoting said arm assembly on said pin centrally positioned under said offset portion for vertical movement within a predetermined vertical angle for adapting the arm assembly for forward and back oscillation with said drive member when operated and for downward angular movement for positioning a said fastener in stitching position over said fabric, said clamp arm assembly comprising a front and a rear member with the said front member pivotally secured to the said rear member for limited lateral angular movement including a manual lever-operated screw means for securing the angular adjustment of the said front member with respect to the said rear member for positioning a said fastener in transverse stitching position, said rear clamp member having a longitudinal open groove on the upper side thereof for slidably engaging the end portion of an adjustable shaft vertically journalled in said offset portion with the lower end thereof bearing against the bottom and side surfaces of said groove for adjusting the angular position of the arm about said pivot pin with a predetermined space between each said fastener retainer with respect to said fabric support means, a third fixed bearing means secured to the inner side of said upstanding portion of said body for pivoting said clamp arm assembly through a fourth bearing means therein for pivoting same in said third bearing means in substantially the same position as when pivoted in said second bearing means whereby when said pin is positioned through said third and fourth beaRing means loop sewing is restricted to a single position for stitching a transverse said loop for retaining each of said plurality of fasteners when said machine is operated and whereby when said pin is positioned through said first and second bearing means a pair of parallel said loops may be sewed on a fabric for dual fastening a said fastener by the forward and rearward motion of said clamp arm assembly when said machine is operated.
 2. The construction recited in claim 1, said clamp arm assembly having a main rear portion having a flat under side and a front portion having a flat top side pivoted thereto with the said underside pivoted to said top side and retained together by a screw means threaded into said top side through a predetermined clearance hole through said front portion for locking said front portion at a predetermined angle with respect to said rear portion when said screw means is tightened.
 3. The construction recited in claim 1 including an L shaped fastener retainer secured to the front vertical surface of the downward extending portion of said arm assembly and retained by a screw means through a vertical slot in said retainer, said retainer adapted and constructed to receive fasteners in a recess in one side thereof in close proximity to the lower surface of said retainer, said recess having extended parallel transverse grooves in the side walls thereof for holding a said fastener, a spring urged finger means for holding said fastener in said recess for loop stitching.
 4. The construction recited in claim 1 including a fastener holder for urging a fastener in stitching position in a retainer comprising a shaft journalled for rotation through said downward extending portion of said clamp arm assembly for rotation about an axis normal to the front surface thereof, a finger means secured in the one end of said shaft by a screw means, the outer end of said finger means movable through a predetermined angle from an idle position to a position against a fastener for holding same in stitching position including a shaft journalled for vertical reciprocation in said outer member, said shaft terminating in a button adapted for vertical reciprocation in the front portion of said clamp assembly, articulation means connecting the lower end of said button with the inner end portion of said shaft including a spring means for normally urging said shaft and said articulation means and said finger into its said hold position against a fastener in stitching position in said retainer and said finger to angularly move away from said fastener for manual removal when said shaft is depressed by said button. 